2015 USL season


The 2015 USL season was the fifth season of the United Soccer League and the first under its new name. This season represented a substantial expansion from 14 teams in 2014 to 24 teams in 2015, and the division of the league into two conferences. It is also the 29th season of third-division soccer in the United States.
Seven Major League Soccer clubs created reserve franchises in the USL for the 2015 season, following the lead of the LA Galaxy, who had done so in 2014: FC Montreal, New York Red Bulls II, Portland Timbers 2, Real Monarchs, Seattle Sounders FC 2, Toronto FC II, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2.
In 2015, the Austin Aztex, Colorado Springs Switchbacks, Saint Louis FC and Tulsa Roughnecks joined the league as expansion sides. The Charlotte Eagles and Dayton Dutch Lions, both original founding members of the USL, removed themselves to the Premier Development League. The Eagles transferred their USL rights to the new Charlotte Independence club. After joining MLS, Orlando City sold their USL franchise rights to Louisville City.

Teams, stadiums, and affiliations

There are eight USL teams owned and operated by MLS clubs and 11 USL-MLS affiliations among the 24 USL clubs.

Player transfers

For full article, see List of USL transfers 2015.

Competition format

Due to expansion, the league was divided into two conferences, Eastern and Western. Each team plays the clubs within their conferences in a home and away series plus six additional games with geographic rivals regardless of conference for a 28-game schedule. The top six finishers in each conference qualify for the four-week playoffs.

League table

;Eastern Conference
;Western Conference

Results table

USL published schedule and results.

Playoffs

Teams will be seeded No. 1 through No. 6 in each conference, with the top two seeds receiving first-round byes and the No. 3 seed hosting the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed hosting the No. 5 seed.
The winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 game will then travel to face the No. 2 seed, and the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 game will travel to face the No. 1 seed. The winners will meet in the Eastern and Western Conference Championship games with the remaining two teams advancing to square off in the 2015 USL Championship, hosted by the higher seeded club.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

USL Championship

Championship Game MVP: Asani Samuels

Attendance

Average home attendances

Ranked from highest to lowest average attendance.
Team
Sacramento Republic FC14158,51611,44210,90611,323
Louisville City FC1494,7078,4144,7726,765
Rochester Rhinos1477,9766,9224,2515,570
Saint Louis FC1468,3885,6624,0044,885
Tulsa Roughnecks FC1465,9998,3353,1894,714
Real Monarchs1465,77013,9791,0014,698
Oklahoma City Energy FC1464,8956,8473,1334,635
Charleston Battery1457,1135,6383,0264,080
Richmond Kickers1452,4525,9571,6323,747
Arizona United SC1446,2546,1081,8843,304
Austin Aztex1445,1715,1461,4393,227
Portland Timbers 21443,7025,8921,7343,122
Wilmington Hammerheads1441,4334,2651,7892,960
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC1438,1213,8232,0122,723
Pittsburgh Riverhounds1436,8174,2979952,630
Harrisburg City Islanders13†33,6734,7411,6522,590
Seattle Sounders FC 21431,1002,9511,7892,221
Charlotte Independence1425,2052,2411,2711,800
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 21423,5453,2081,1061,682
Orange County Blues FC1419,5733,0006741,398
LA Galaxy II13†12,6021,817507969
New York Red Bulls II148,3341,028191595
Toronto FC II13†6,23398650479
FC Montreal144,3831,301112313
Total3331,121,96213,979503,369

† 1 game not reported
Sources: ,

Statistical leaders

Top scorers

RankPlayerNationClubGoals
1Matt FondyUSALouisville City FC22
2Danni KönigOklahoma City Energy21
3Rob VincentPittsburgh Riverhounds18
4Long TanArizona United SC14
4Luke VercolloneUSAColorado Springs Switchbacks14
6Jason YeisleyUSARichmond Kickers13
7Kharlton BelmarUSAPortland Timbers 212
8Dane KellyCharleston Battery11
8Ariel LassiterLA Galaxy II11
10Miguel GonzálezColorado Springs Switchbacks10
10Kevin KerrPittsburgh Riverhounds10
10Rodrigo LópezUSASacramento Republic10
10Jason PlumhoffUSAHarrisburg City Islanders10

Source:

Top assists

RankPlayerNationClubAssists
1Bryan BurkeUSALouisville City FC10
2Kevin KerrPittsburgh Riverhounds9
2Luke VercolloneUSAColorado Springs Switchbacks9
4Chad BondTulsa Roughnecks8
4Raúl MendiolaLA Galaxy II8
6Matt FondyUSALouisville City FC7
6Miguel GonzálezColorado Springs Switchbacks7
6Jorge HerreraCharlotte Independence7
6Enzo MartínezCharlotte Independence7
6Lebogang MolotoPittsburgh Riverhounds7

Source:

Top Goalkeepers

RankGoalkeeperClubGPMINSSVSGAGAAW-L-T
1 Brandon MillerRochester Rhinos21184546110.53713–1–713
2 Odisnel CooperCharleston Battery19171050180.94710–2–76
3 Clément DiopLA Galaxy II24216070271.12511–9–38
4 Calle BrownPittsburgh Riverhounds14126634161.1355–4–45
5 Devin PeralesAustin Aztex16139349181.1615–8–15
6 Scott GoodwinLouisville City FC27243087321.18514–7–68
7 Devala GorrickColorado Springs Switchbacks21189061251.19012–7–29
8 Evan NewtonOklahoma City Energy27243089331.22213–6–810
9 Pepe MirandaOrange County Blues FC25225086311.24012–8–48
10 Alec KannSaint Louis FC19166574231.2435–7–76

Source:

League Awards

Individual Awards

First Team
F: Matt Fondy, Danni König, Long Tan
M: Luke Vercollone, Rob Vincent, Tony Walls
D: Bryan Burke, Shawn Ferguson, Daniel Steres, Grant Van De Casteele
G: Brandon Miller
Second Team
F: Kharlton Belmar, Dane Kelly, Jason Yeisley
M: Gareth Evans, Kevin Kerr, Rodrigo Lopez
D: Mickey Daly, Brenton Griffiths, Mechack Jerome, Nemanja Vukovic
G: Odisnel Cooper